The field of criminal justice is expansive. Earning your degree in criminal justice does not always mean you have to go on to become a lawyer. In fact, a criminal justice degree can pave the way to work in advocacy, academia, homeland security, law enforcement and many other related fields.
We will break down everything you need to know about a criminal justice degree, including the types of degrees available and the positions you can attain.
A criminal justice degree is an interdisciplinary study. It incorporates law, sociology, psychology, public administration, and more. With the degree, you’ll learn how the judicial system works, from law enforcement to the courts.
When obtaining a criminal justice degree, you will get to understand the system from the perspective of both criminals and victims. Many students choose to continue on the path to become a lawyer, but others may enter politics or pursue a position in academia teaching criminal justice.
What Kinds Of Criminal Justice Degrees Are There?
Depending on the type of position you want to hold, you can choose from a variety of levels of criminal justice degrees. Here are the options:
Associate Degree
For those seeking to enter the field of criminal justice quickly, an associate degree may be all that is necessary. With 60 credits for completion, this can be done in as little as two years. The degree offers a basic understanding in law enforcement, constitutional law and legal jurisprudence. It can open the door to becoming: a police officer, campus security guard, evidence technician, legal assistant, or insurance investigator.
Bachelor of Criminal Justice: A bachelor’s degree is the next level up in higher education. Typically, this program requires the completion of roughly 120 units and tends to take four years to complete. Those enrolled will take courses like: the sociology of crime, criminology, and corrections issues. Having a bachelor’s degree can expand career possibilities and includes jobs in social work, law enforcement, and public services.
Master of Criminal Justice: For anyone who wants to obtain a position of leadership, then a master’s degree may be necessary. After completing a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree is about 30 additional credits that takes a year to complete. Some courses you can expect to take in a master’s of criminal justice program may include: Seminar in Criminology, Applied Data Analysis in Criminal Justice, and Theories in Criminal Justice.
Doctor of Criminal Justice: A doctor of criminal justice is earning a PhD in the field. In the US, this takes about five years to do and is filled with advanced topics within the subject. The terminal degree will introduce research topics like understanding systemic implications, prison reform, and the ethics of law.
Doctor of Jurisprudence: For those who want to become lawyers, then the doctor of jurisprudence (JD) is necessary. It’s a 90-credit program that amounts to about three years’ worth of coursework. It’s also known as law school! Once a graduate earns their degree and passes the Bar exam for their state, they can practice as a lawyer.
Earning a criminal justice degree opens the door to many career possibilities. The degree is interdisciplinary in nature so it can offer a wide perspective and understanding behind many aspects of the criminal justice system.
Here are some fields in which you can enter with this degree:
1. Law Enforcement
While law enforcement may bring just police officers to mind, the field is deeper than that. Positions include: police officer, FBI agent, DEA agent, Deputy U.S. Marshall, secret service agent, and wildfire warden.
2. Corrections
Corrections deal with the punishment, supervision, and rehabilitation of criminals. Titles include: correctional officer, treatment specialist, parole officer, and correctional facilities supervisor.
3. Homeland Security
Homeland security refers to the department that protects the country from terrorism and threats. This includes both natural disasters and destruction at the hands of humans. Some positions within the field include: border patrol agent, deportation officer, CIA agent, and transportation security officer.
4. Private Security
Working in private security spans many specialties and positions like: bodyguards, security guards, loss prevention managers, and security coordinators.
5. Social Justice Services
Services within social justice aim to achieve equality and maintain the welfare of citizens. Jobs within this sector span: victims’ advocate, child support investigator, restorative justice advocate, and discrimination investigator.
6. Forensics And Investigation
If you have any interest in science and criminal justice, then forensics and investigation is the field for you. It applies biology, physics, chemistry, engineering, and computer science to matters related to criminal and civil law. These professionals may collect evidence that can be used in cases. Some job titles include: criminologist, forensic artists, crime scene investigator, postal service investigator, and private detective.
What Skills Will I Learn From A Criminal Justice Education?
A degree in criminal justice teaches a lot of transferable skills for both the field and life. Some of the top skills you hone while studying this degree include:
Entering the field of criminal justice means you can hold a lot of different positions. Whether you want to continue your education to become a lawyer or work in rehabilitation for criminals, a criminal justice degree is a good place to begin your academic journey.
If you prefer to study online, you can even choose to earn your degree via an online criminology degree.
Whether you want to work out in the field or behind a desk, you can start by enrolling in a program to earn your criminal justice degree.
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